Australian Police Charge Two and Seize Property in Construction Union Corruption Probe
| Searches and arrests | Police searched six properties, including the CFMEU Victorian headquarters, arresting five men. |
|---|---|
| Charges laid | Two men were charged with drug and firearm storage offenses and released on bail. |
| Items seized | Officers confiscated four union-registered vehicles, electronic devices, documents, a rifle, ammunition, and controlled drugs. |
| Union response | CFMEU administrators stated no union officials were charged and confirmed cooperation with police. |
Police in the Australian state of Victoria have charged two men and seized weapons, drugs, and union-registered vehicles as part of an investigation into alleged corruption, fraud, and organized crime within the construction industry.
On Monday, detectives from Taskforce Hawk—a specialized law enforcement unit focused on criminality in the building sector—executed search warrants across six properties. The searches included the Victorian state headquarters of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), where five men were taken into custody.
Authorities confirmed that no arrests were made directly inside the union’s headquarters. Administrators overseeing the CFMEU also stated that no union officials were among those charged following the operation.
During the raids, police seized four vehicles registered to the CFMEU, alongside ten mobile phones, laptops, iPads, USB storage devices, and paperwork. Officers also recovered a .22-caliber rifle, ammunition, and a quantity of a Schedule 4 classified drug.
Two of the detained men were formally charged on Monday evening. A 36-year-old man from Chirnside Park was charged with possessing a Schedule 4 drug. He was granted bail to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Nov. 10. A 46-year-old man from Westbury was charged under the state’s Firearms Act 1996 for failing to properly store a long-arm firearm and ammunition. He was bailed to appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Jan. 11.
Victorian police confirmed that inquiries into alleged secret commissions remain ongoing, defining a secret commission as the corrupt giving, soliciting, or receiving of an undisclosed financial benefit or kickback.
Detective Acting Superintendent Jamie Walker of the organized crime division stated that “corruption, intimidation and violence within the construction industry is unacceptable,” adding that police will continue to target illegal entities in the sector.
CFMEU administrator Michael Crosby said the union is fully cooperating with law enforcement. Crosby stated that “bad actors in construction remain a major threat” to workers, noting that the administration has implemented reform measures and that anyone tied to criminal elements has no future with the union.
Background
Taskforce Hawk was originally formed as Operation Hawk in July 2024 before expanding into a full taskforce the following year. The specialized law enforcement group was established to investigate financial fraud, secret commissions, violent criminal behavior, and organized motorcycle gang links within Australia’s building industry.
The ongoing corruption allegations surrounding the sector recently led to political instability in Victoria. The scandal contributed to the resignation of former Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, after which her successor, Premier Ben Carroll, announced a royal commission to investigate the industry.
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